The stroll, beginning its seventh season tonight at the Madison County Courthouse Square, offers an opportunity to interact with the artists behind the art.

“There’s nothing artists love more than explaining what their work represents to them,” said Donna Castellano, who coordinates the event with Dianne Burch. “It’s about breaking down barriers.”

The Sidewalk Arts Stroll, which will be held on the third Thursday of each month through August, includes a wide array of art at every price.

“We’re developing a little community on Thursday night, and it’s great to be a part of that,” Castellano said.

One of the most noticeable trends among artists at the stroll is repurposing discarded items into art, sometimes functional, sometimes simply aesthetic. A window heading for a landfill may become a mirror. Broken pieces of china may become a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry.

Sidewalk Arts Stroll applications from artists who do this kind of work have increased, and more people are buying.

“They’re just so inventive; it’s always a revelation for us to walk around the square and see what they’re up to,” Castellano said.

This year’s Sidewalk Arts Stroll will have fewer vendors, which will open up space around the square for better display and amplified music.

“It’s easier to see things if you’re looking at 60 artists rather than 90,” Castellano said. “This will help avoid some work getting lost in the shuffle and give the artists who are there a little more prominence.”

There are plenty of reasons to go to the Sidewalk Arts Stroll, even if you don’t plan to buy art, including live music, crafts for children, downtown restaurants and the nearby Green Street Market. But Castellano says it may not be so easy to resist taking something home.

“You might walk by someone who makes wooden kitchen utensils and realize you need a spoon,” she said. “You have a chance to buy it from a local craftsman rather than going across town to a chain store.”

While the primary function of the Sidewalk Arts Stroll is to help make local artists accessible in a unique marketplace, Castellano sees it as something bigger. Asked what someone who has never been to the stroll should expect, Castellano said the Sidewalk Arts Stroll shows the Huntsville community at its best.

“They would see the arts community represented. They would see the community spirit,” Castellano said. “The people who are there are sharing the best part of themselves, and you get to be a part of the experience.”